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Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup in 2022 was one of the most historic moments in football till date. Life coming full circle, was the emotion personified with that victory as the Argentine picked up the very last piece of prestigious silverware there was left to win in football. However, a big question surrounding fans has been whether Messi will take part in the upcoming 2026 World Cup as he is yet to announce his retirement from both the national team and professional club football as well. His quality as a player remains unquestionable as he has been delivering standout performances for both club and country even post the World Cup victory.
His old friend and current Inter Miami team-mate Luis Suarez recently spoke out on the matter and clarified that retirement is not at all on the mind of Messi. He said, “Retirement? Leo Messi has that desire to play at the World Cup 2026 with Argentina… We’re not discussing retirement as a plan to activate anytime soon.” Suarez has reiterated that Messi would like to play at the upcoming World Cup and this will come as a big delight to Argentina fans and football fans around the world in general, who would love to see the little magician play at the big world stage again.
Messi nearly scores brilliant freekick in recent 0-0 draw against Chicago FC
Lionel Messi played in Inter Miami CF's latest tense 0-0 draw against Chicago Fire FC on April 13, 2025, at Soldier Field, in a match that drew a record-breaking crowd of 62,358 fans. The electric atmosphere owed much to the presence of Lionel Messi, making his long-awaited debut at the Chicago venue since joining Inter Miami in 2023.
Despite high expectations, both teams struggled to break the deadlock. Messi came closest for Inter Miami, striking the crossbar twice from trademark free kicks, while a late goal by Luis Suárez was ruled out for offside. Chicago Fire's defence was marshalled by Carlos Teran and Maximiliano Falcon and proved impenetrable, successfully neutralizing Miami’s potent attacking threats. On the other end, Inter Miami’s goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was crucial, making seven saves to keep his team at bay.
